Multifunction fluid charging device

ABSTRACT

A device is disclosed for controlling the flow of refrigerant into a system and for controlling the application of a vacuum to evacuate the system via the same device prior to charging. The device is configured for controlling flow at the charging port to avoid loss of refrigerant from connecting lines. Piston operated valving internally mounted in a valve body controls the communication of refrigerant and vacuum sources to an outlet opening receiving a tubular charging port of the system to be charged. A pressure operated clamping piston actuates the gripping rings to secure the device to the charging port prior to both evacuation and charging and also acts to open the charging port valving as the fitting is clamped and sealed thereto. The outlet opening is defined by an end cap which is detachable from the fitting to allow use with different configuration charging ports by replacement with another end cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns devices for use in dispensing fluid intoa reservoir, such as in charging air conditioning systems with arefrigerant.

In charging auto air conditioning systems during production, a fittingis typically manually secured to a system charging port to enable theintroduction therein of refrigerant received under pressure from asource connected to the fitting.

The air conditioning system is also typically evacuated prior tocharging by being connected to a vacuum source for an interval justbefore charging. In such high volume auto production situations, avalving console is often employed which successively connects thefitting to vacuum and refrigerant sources, after the fitting has beenmanually secured to the charging port.

In such situations, the need for making the connection manually isburdensome and slows the operation. The use of a separate valvingconsole results in the escape of refrigerant in the line connecting theconsole to the fitting, wasting this material and creating anenvironmental problem. The preciseness of the fill volume is alsocompromised by the loss of refrigerant in the connecting line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a multifunction device having an end caphaving a nozzle opening able to be received over a charging port andadapted to be fluid pressure clamped to the charging port. The clampingstep also automatically opens a .[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schrader type.Iaddend.valve associated with the charging port, and seals the nozzleopening to the charging port.

The device contains a pair of piston valves actuated by fluid pressuresuccessively applied by a sequencing control to connect either an inletport in communication with a vacuum source, or an inlet portcommunicating with a source of pressurized refrigerant, to a nozzleopening formed in an end cap of the fitting.

The valving pistons are movable in bores formed in a main valve bodymember and act in one porition thereof, assumed upon the application of.[.air.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.pressure, to place corresponding inletports in communication with the nozzle opening.

A clamping piston is mounted within the valve body to be movable inopposite directions upon the application of air presure supplied viainternal passages on either side of the piston, and acts to causegripping rings to move radially inward and at the same time brings anO-ring seal into contact with the open end, while also bringing anelongated element into contact with the .[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schradertype .Iaddend.valve stem located within the charging port.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an upper end view of the device shown in FIG. 1, showing thevarious inlet ports, together with a schematic depiction of the systemconnections thereto.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the deviceshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view of the longitudinal section 4--4 taken in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of section 5--5 taken in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the section 6--6 taken in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the end cap of the device shownin FIG. 1 .[.showing the mating engagement with an inlet charging tubeof a system to be charged.]..

FIG. 8 is a view of the transverse section 8--8 taken through the deviceshown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the end of the main valve bodyand an alternately configured end cap and associated componentsattachable thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, a particular embodiment is described inaccordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, and specific terminologyemployed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood that thesame is not intended to be limiting, inasmuch as the invention iscapable of taking many forms within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, the multifunction device 10 according to thepresent invention is comprised of a valve body assembly 12 including agenerally elongate main valve body member 14 having an inlet porting cap16 affixed at one end by capscrews 11 and an end cap 18 affixed at theother end.

The device 10 is sized to be manually grasped as at central knurled area15, to be placed on a charging port, comprised of an inlet tube .[.20.].connected to the system to be charged. A .[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schradertype .Iaddend.valve is typically employed, having a valve stem .[.22.].which when pushed controls opening of the valve in the manner well knownto those skilled in the art.

The inlet porting cap 16 carries three pairs of line connector fittings,"on-off" clamping air pressure connector fittings 24, 26, vacuum "on"air pressure connector fittings 28, refrigerant "on" air pressureconnector fitting 30, vacuum source connector fitting 32, andrefrigerant connector fitting 34.

FIG. 2 illustrates the corresponding ports 24A-34A formed in porting cap16, and schematic of the remaining fluid circuit.

Fluid lines (not shown) are connected to each connector fitting 24-34.Port 24A is connected to a two-way valve 36 which in turn connects port24A either to a source of air pressure 38 or to a vent as shown, andport 26A is connected to a two-way valve 40, connecting port 26A to apressure source 42 or vent.

Similarly, port 38A is connected to a two-way valve 44 which in turnconnects port 28A either to pressure source 38 or vent, and port 30A isconnected to a two-way valve 46 which in turn connects port 30A topressure shource 42 or vent.

The operation of the two-way valves 36, 40, 44, 46, is by solenoids (notindicated) under the control of the sequencing control circuit indicatedat 48.

Port 32A is directly connected to a source of vacuum 50 while port 34Ais connected to a source of pressurized refrigerant 52.

Valving means is provided to provide selective control overcommunication between each port 32A and 34A and an outlet in the end capassembly 18 (FIG. 4), with actuation by means of air pressure introducedat ports 28A and 30A.

The valving means includes a pair of valving pistons 56, 58 slidably fitwithin bore 60, 62 respectively formed in the main valve body member 14while O-rings 71, 73 seal each bore 72 and 74 against the escape of airpressure through the interface of porting cap 16 and main valve bodymember 14. O-ring seals 64, 66 and 68, 70 create fluid tight chambers72, 74 above each piston 56, 58 respectively while O-rings 71, 73 sealeach bore 72 and 74 against the escape of air pressure through theinterface of porting cap 16 and main valve body member 14. Recesses 76,68 are formed into the top of each piston to ensure application of airpressure introduced into chamber 72 or 74 via ports 28A and 30A isexerted on an appreciable area of each piston 56, 58.

Each piston 56 and 58 is formed with a hollow 80, 82 in the lower endreceiving a compression spring 84, 86 respectively each of which urgethe associated spring upwardly in opposition to fluid pressure inchamber 72 or 74.

When either piston 56 or 58 is in the down position, ports 88 or 90extending about the skirt of piston 56 or 58 respectively and intohollows 80, 82 thereof respectively, are brought into alignment withannular groove 92, 94 and when in the normal up position grooves 92 or94 are blocked by the outside of piston 56 or 58.

Groove 92 and 94 are in turn continuously pressurized during operationof the apparatus via ports 32A, 34A with a vacuum and pressurizedrefrigerant respectively. FIG. 8 shows that this is accomplished byinternal passsages 96 and 98 extending length wise from ports 32A and34A alongside bores respectively, intersection cross passages 100, 102respectively. The outside section may be plugged after drilling as bywelding as shown. O-ring seals 104, 106, 108 and 110 prevent leakages toor from grooves 92, 94 respectively.

Vacuum or pressurized refrigerant is applied via central bore 112, andthence through a bore 114 extending through a clamping piston 116; pastopenings 118 in a .[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schrader type .Iaddend.valveoperating member 120; through a clearance between a rod element 122 ofmember 120 and a smaller diameter bore 124 in piston 116; and through aninternal cavity 126 of piston 116 to outlet nozzle opening 54.

End cap 18 is comprised of a nose piece 128 secured by capscrews 130 toan intermediate sleeve 132, in turn secured with capscrews 133 to theend face of main valve body member 14.

Clamping piston 116 is formed with a first reduced diameter end 136piloted in bore 138 of main valve body member 114, and a second reduceddiameter end 140 piloted in a bore 142 formed in intermediate sleeve132.

An intermediate larger diameter piston portion 144 is received in bore146 to define upper and lower chambers 148 and 150, isolated from eachother by O-ring 152 carried by piston portion 144, and sealed withO-rings 154 and 156.

Air pressure is supplied to either chamber 148 or 150 by internalpassages 158 and 160 extending from ports 24A and 26A respectively(FIGS. 5 and 6) through main valve body member 14, and internal passages162 and 164 in intermediate sleeve 132. O-ring 166, 168, 170, 172 sealthe passages 158, 160 at the interface of porting plac 16 and main valvebody member 14, and intermediate sleeve 132. Clamping piston 116 thus isforced either up or down by the application of air pressure at port 24Aor 26A.

Clamping piston 116 is formed with a pair of opposed curved blades ortangs 174 extending into corresponding peripheral recesses 176 formed ina sleeve 178 defining nozzle outlet 54, sleeve 178 pressed into bore 180of nos piece 128. Sleeve 178 carries a pair of gripping rings 182received in circumferential opposed slots 184 machined into sleeve 178.

FIG. 7 illustrates that as clamping piston 116 descends, tangs 174 camthe gripping rings 182 radially inward towards the inlet the .[.20.].inserted into opening 54. .[.A groove 186.]. .Iadd.An annular feature ofthe inlet tube .Iaddend.therein is aligned with the gripping rings 182,so that a clamping action occurs by the rings 182 moving into the.[.groove 186 .Iadd.annular feature.Iaddend..

A retainer ring 188 is pressed into cavity 16 of clamping piston 116bringing O-ring 190 aligned with chamber opening 192.

Thus, inlet tube .[.20.]. is sealed by movement of the clamping piston116 bringing O-ring 190 against the end face .[.194.]. thereof.

Simultaneously, rod element 122 is moved against .Iadd.the.Iaddend.valve .Iadd.of the Schrader type valve, .Iaddend.stem .[.22.].to open the .[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schrader type .Iaddend.valve (notshown) establishing communication between the vacuum port 24A orrefrigerant port 26A and the system to be charged.

A spring 196 and annular retainer 198 act to urge the member 120outward, allowing some .[.last.]. .Iadd.lost .Iaddend.motion as the.[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schrader type .Iaddend.valve is fully opened andthe piston 116 moves to the full down position.

Thus, the operator need only position the device 10 over the inlet tube.[.20.]., with clamping, sealing and opening of the .[.Schroeder.]..Iadd.Schrader type .Iaddend.valve completed by the application ofclampng air pressure.

The application of vacuum and then refrigerant is accomplished by thesame fitting by application of air pressure to piston 58 and thereafterpiston 60. The valving of the refrigerant is at the point of charging toeliminate the loss of refrigerant and the imprecision resulting from theuse of long connecting lines.

Disconnect is also simply achieved by the application of air pressure tomove piston 116 upward, after both vacuum and refrigerant ports aresealed by movement of pistons 58 and 60 upward, as viewed in FIG. 4, bythe release of air pressure in chambers 72 and 74.

The end cap 18 is detachable so as to be repalced with end caps ofdiffering configurations, as to be fit to different size valves, and fordifferent installations. Such an end cap 18A is shown in FIG. 9,extended in length so as to facilitate reaching relative inaccessibleinlet tubes .[.20.].. In this case a longer length nose piece 128A isemployed as well as .[.a.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.extended length clampingpiston 116A, necessitating a .[.space.]. .Iadd.spacer .Iaddend.tube 200to reach member 120. This is mated to the remaining components withoutany modification to enable use of the same fitting 10 for variousrequirments.

Many variations of the specific arrangement are of course possible.

We claim:
 1. A device for dispensing a pressurized fluid into a system,said system including a charging inlet tube, and device comprising:avalve body assembly, including an end cap having an end cap nozzleopening adapted to be received over said inlet tube; air operatedclamping means for clamping said inlet tube within said end cap opening;said clamping means including a clamping piston, and a bore formed insaid valve body assembly, said clamping piston movably mounted in saidbore in said valve body assembly for movement between clamping andunclamping positions; said clamping means further including a series ofclamping elements moved radially inward upon movement of said clampingpiston to said clamping position; air pressure inlet porting means onsaid valve body assembly for connection to a source of clamping meansair pressure; first internal passage means in said valve body assemblyconnecting said air inlet porting means and said bore in said valve bodyassembly included in said clamping means; respective vacuum andpressurized fluid porting means on said valve body assembly forconnection to a source of vacuum and pressurized fluid respectively;selectively operable distributor valving means within said valve bodyassembly for selectively communicating said vacuum or said pressurizedfluid porting means to said end cap nozzle opening to allow applying avacuum to said system and thereafter dispensing pressurized fluidthereinto through said end cap nozzle opening; .[.air.]. .Iadd.fluid.Iaddend.pressure activating means for operating said distributorvalving means by the application of .[.air.]. .Iadd.fluid.Iaddend.pressure; a .[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schrader type .Iaddend.valvestem engagement member having a rod element centered with respect tosaid end cap opening, and .[.air.]. .Iadd.fluid pressure.Iaddend.operated actuating means .[.bring.]. .Iadd.bringing.Iaddend.said rod element into engagemnt with a .[.Schroeder.]..Iadd.Schrader type .Iaddend.valve stem when said device is clamped toan inlet tube equipped with a .[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schrader type.Iaddend.valve; valve actuator porting means comprising a series ofports adapted to be connected to .[.air lines.]. .Iadd.pressurized fluid.Iaddend.communicating with said distributor valving means and said.[.air.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.pressure actuating means to enableselective operation of said distributor valving means.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said distributor valving means includes apair of valving pistons, and a pair of bores formed in said valve bodyassembly, said valving pistons slidably mounted within a respective oneof said pair of .[.pores.]. .Iadd.bores .Iaddend.formed in said valvebody assembly, said valve actuator porting means communicating with saidbores to be connected to said a source of .[.air.]. .Iadd.fluid.Iaddend.pressure thereto to thereby cause movement of said pistons insaid bores; said distributor valving means further including secondinternal passage means in said valve body assembly causing communicationof said vacuum porting means with said end cap nozzle opening uponpressurization of one of said bores and movement of one of said pistons;and, of said pressurized fluid porting means with said end cap nozzleopening upon pressurization of the other of said bores and resultantmovement of said other piston.
 3. The device according to claim 2wherein each of said pistons is spring biased against said movement andwherein neither of said vacuum or .[.refrigerant.]. .Iadd.pressurizedfluid .Iaddend.porting means are in communication via said secondinternal passage means with said end cap nozzle opening when neither ofsaid bores is pressurized.
 4. the device according to claim 1 whereinsaid .[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schrader type .Iaddend.valve stem engagementmember is mounted to said clamping piston for movement therewith, saidrod element extending outwardly towards said end cap opening to bebrought into engagment with a .[.Schroeder.]. .Iadd.Schrader type.Iaddend.valve stem by movement of said clamping piston to the clampingposition.
 5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said engagementmember includes a base affixed to said element, a bore formed in saidclamping piston, said base slidably mounted in said bore formed in saidclamping piston; said bore having a shoulder defined by a steppeddiameter portion of said bore, said element extending through saidstepped portion, and a spring acting on said base urging said boreagainst said shoulder.
 6. The device according to claim 5 wherein saidbore in said clamping piston defines in part said second internalpassage means, and wherein said base is formed iwth one or more throughopenings allowing fluid flow into said stepped diameter passage.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1 wherein said clamping means includes asleeve having circumferential recesses formed therein, and wherein saidseries of clamping elements comprise a plurality of gripper ringsegments carried in said recesses about said sleeve, and furtherincluding projecting curved blade portions extending from one end ofsaid clamping piston, said blade portions received into said recesses tobe movable therein upon movement of said piston to a clamping positionto force said ring segments radially inward to be adpated to grip saidcharging inlet tube.
 8. The device according to claim 7 wherein saidclamping piston is formed with a counterbore opening towards said endcap nozzle opening into which said stepeed diameter passage opens, saidcounterbore carrying on O-ring adapted to sealingly engage said charinginlet tube upon movement of said piston to said clamping position. 9.The device according to claim 1 wherein said valve body assemblyincludes a main valve body member, said end cap is detachably secured toone end of said main valve body member to allow replacement with endcaps having openings of a different configuration to adapt to differentcharging inlet tubes.